Matthew Laborteaux (Albert)

Hey guys! If any of you have the Family Net channel, make sure you watch "The Bob Newhart Show" tonight. According to their schedule, they are airing the episode called 'My Boy Guillermo' which Matt is in. First aired in 1976! This should be fun to watch!

Ok, enough 'Matt' plugging! (for now)

On March 20, 1980, Matthew Laborteaux made a guest appearance on “Here's Boomer”, a TV show whose main character was a dog. The show was an answer to the popular Benji film series. Boomer was a stray mutt who roamed the countryside looking for shelter but ended up helping people along the way. The title of Matthew's episode was “Jailbreak”. The storyline was : dognapers fail to capture Boomer, who befriends a boy (Matthew Laborteaux) whose pooch was not so lucky.

Oh, by the way, did you read Alison Arngrim's part about Albert in her autobiography “Confessions of a Prairie #@!%” ? I thought it was quite funny...

“Orphaned Albert is a street waif, a stealing, gambling, Artful Dodger type that Charles brings into the Ingalls family. Sad eyed with pouty lips, he is a magnet for tragedy. If someone is going to accidentally burn down a building, befriend a teenage rape victim, get addicted to morphine, or come down with a bizarre fatal disease, it's this kid. He's such a hit, it starts a ghastly irreversible trend on the show : dozens of orphans and lost children being taken in by the Ingallses, the Edwardses, and eventually even the Olesons.”

Yes I've seen that part in Alison's book. Too funny!

Love that picture...which I could see that "Here's Boomer" episode, but it's one of those tv shows that are lost forever...

 

Very handsome.

 Very nice!!!!!

King Of The Gypsies - 1978

That's awesome, Dave! I've never seen that one!!   

Umm, wow...Dave, you are to be commended for that video!  It is absolutely remarkable!  The song, the way it's timed perfectly to the end, capturing great moments from each episode he did, along with titles and years...just AMAZING.   The song choice was perfect as well.  Gosh, I wish Matt could see this; I know he would love it!!

I got teary at the still shot of "May we Make them Proud", and the still shot of "The Great Gambini".  It was always Matt and Michael's scenes that got to me the most.   Michael could always seem to bring out the deepest emotion of both Matt and Melissa G....well, everyone actually. He simply had that ability about him, which was a true gift.

Thanks Amy..........Melissa said it best.......pretty much describes the talent that boy had....he was something else!


“For Matt to be able to consistently access that kind of wide open emotion,
was remarkable.”…Melissa Gilbert            

You're welcome....yes, that pretty much does sum it right up!  

don't think I seen any movies he was in

Wow! I have to find that one (probably won't be easy).

julmer70 wrote:

Wow!  I have to find that one (probably won't be easy).

Amazon $7.00.............

I am guessing that this interview with Matt is somewhere on this thread, but I've missed it somehow.  I just discovered this two-part interview and really enjoyed it.  It was a walk down memory lane of some of his episodes, and interesting to get his perspective on them...





Here's a fun interview with Pat.  I especially like the moment he speaks of starting at 3:53.  

 These are great, Amy!

Had you seen them before, Julie? I can't believe I'd missed them! There were several by "MelissaSueAndersonFan" that I had never seen and were really good. She has a two part one with Dean, and one with Katherine MacGreggor and one with Karen Grassle. It says these were 'produced' by Dean Butler.

I've seen both Matt & Pat's on youtube (and watch them often). I think I saw the Katherine MacGregor one, she's a hoot! I haven't seen Dean's or Karen Grassle's though.

I've been meaning to write to Oprah (haven't had time yet) to see if she can feature some LH cast members in her "Where are they now" show. I definitely will after the holidays!

julmer70 wrote:

I've been meaning to write to Oprah (haven't had time yet) to see if she can feature some LH cast members in her "Where are they now" show.  I definitely will after the holidays!

That would be great! I don't get the OWN network, so I wasn't aware she was having that show. I'd love to know when it's going to air, if you ever find out...then I can have my dad record it. Thanks!

I will let you know when I write to her, Amy...and if she ends up doing it! I know she's already featured Alison Arngrim (and briefly talked about Melissa G in the same episode). I'm pushing for the Labyorteaux bros the most, but I'd love it if she can feature any of the other surviving cast members. It'll also be cool if she were to talk about both Jason Bateman's and Missy Francis' success now!